The chemical constituents in dried roots of Atractylodes macrocephala were investigated in this study. Through utilizing normal-phase silica gel and ODS column chromatography, TLC, and semi-preparative HPLC, 4 new sesquiterpenoids were purified from the ethyl acetate extract of A. macrocephala. By various spectroscopic techniques, such as 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, IR, UV, and CD, their structures were identified as atractylmacron A (1), 9β-hydroxyasterolide (2), atractylenolide H (3), atractylenolide J (4). Compound 1 possesses a rare 6/7 bicyclic skeleton.

Objective: To explore the causal link of cumulative ecological risk and future orientation with health risk behaviors among higher vocational college students, so as to provide reference for reducing and preventing health risk behaviors among higher vocational college students. Methods: A longitudinal follow up study was conducted on 612 students using convenience sampling from 2 vocational colleges in Hunan Province. The Cumulative Ecological Risk Scale, Future Orientation Scale, and Health Risk Behavior Scale were used during three follow up visits (T1: September 2022, T2: June 2023, T3: March 2024), and a cross lagged panel model was constructed to examine the longitudinal causal relationship of cumulative ecological risk, future orientation and health risk behaviors. Analysis of longitudinal intermediary effect between variables by Bootstrap. Results: The cumulative ecological risk scores of T1, T2 and T3 among higher vocational college students were (2.94±1.44,2.99±1.63,3.02±1.54), future orientation scores (40.49±4.71,41.51±5.72,41.06±4.35) and health risk behavior scores (3.73±2.01,3.49±2.00,3.23±2.00). The results of repeated measures ANOVA showed that the future orientation score of T2 was higher than that of T1, and the main effect of measurement time was statistically significant ( F=5.09，P＜0.01,η 2=0.02). The health risk behavior score of T1 was higher than that of T2, and the health risk behavior score of T2 was higher than that of T3, and the main effect of measurement time was statistically significant ( F=10.12，P＜0.01,η 2=0.03).The cross lagged model showed good adaptability, with χ 2/df =7.20 ( P <0.01), relative fitting indicators GFI=0.98, CFI=0.99, TLI=0.96, IFI=0.99, NFI =0.99, and absolute fitting indicator RMSEA =0.06. Among them, the T1, T2 cumulative ecological risk showed negatively predictive effects on T2, T3 future orientation ( β =-0.24, -0.47 ), and T1, T2 cumulative ecological risk positively predicted T2, T3 health risk behavior ( β =0.20, 0.24), while T1, T2 future orientation negatively predicted T2, T3 health risk behavior ( β =-0.25, -0.18) ( P ＜0.01). Bootstrap test analysis found that T2 future orientation had a longitudinal mediating effect ( β=0.04, P ＜0.01) on the T1 cumulative ecological risk and T3 health risk behavior. Conclusions The accumulation of ecological risk among higher vocational college students can positively predict health risk behaviors, while future orientation can negatively predict healthrisk behaviors. Moreover, future orientation plays a longitudinal mediating role between accumulated ecological risks and health risk behaviors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of an intelligent handheld ultrasound (US) device for assisting non-expert general practitioners (GPs) in detecting carotid plaques (CPs) in community populations. Methods: This prospective parallel controlled trial recruited 111 consecutive community residents. All of them underwent examinations by non-expert GPs and specialist doctors using handheld US devices (setting A, setting B, and setting C). The results of setting C with specialist doctors were considered the gold standard. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and the features of CPs were measured and recorded. The diagnostic performance of GPs in distinguishing CPs was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve. Inter-observer agreement was compared using the intragroup correlation coefficient (ICC). Questionnaires were completed to evaluate clinical benefits. Results: Among the 111 community residents, 80, 96, and 112 CPs were detected in settings A, B, and C, respectively. Setting B exhibited better diagnostic performance than setting A for detecting CPs (area under the curve, 0.856 vs. 0.749; P<0.01). Setting B had better consistency with setting C than setting A in CIMT measurement and the assessment of CPs (ICC, 0.731 to 0.923). Moreover, measurements in setting B required less time than the other two settings (44.59 seconds vs. 108.87 seconds vs. 126.13 seconds, both P<0.01). Conclusion Using an intelligent handheld US device, GPs can perform CP screening and achieve a diagnostic capability comparable to that of specialist doctors.

Diabetic kidney disease(DKD)is a high incidence microvascular complication caused by diabetes mellitus(DM).Persistent high glucose induces oxidative stress in the body.nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1(Nrf2/HO-1)can play an anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative role by inhibiting the accumulation of extracellular matrix in glomerular mesangium,inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition in renal tubular epithelial cells,and inhibiting iron apoptosis,so as to improve renal function damage and delay the process of DKD.This article reviews the relationship between Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and DKD and the effect of traditional Chinese medicine active ingredients on DKD through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway,in order to provide a basis for the development of new drugs.

ObjectiveDnaG primase in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtuDnaG) plays a vital role in DNA replication, making it a target for novel antituberculosis drug discovery. However, the mechanism of MtuDnaG priming is not fully understood, which hinders the screening of MtuDnaG inhibitors. In this work, the specific recognition sites (SRS) in ssDNA for MtuDnaG binding was investigated and the interactions between MtuDnaG and ssDNA template was discussed. MethodsBy biochemical and biophysical methods, the binding of the didomain of MtuDnaG (MtuP49, containing the zinc-binding domain and RNA polymerase domain) to ssDNA template with various trinucleotide sites was evaluated, the affinity of MtuP49 to ssDNA template was measured. ResultsThe present study suggested the 5'-GCG/C-3' as the potential SRS in ssDNA for specific binding to MtuDnaG. Besides,5'-GCG/C-3' sites were further identified within the oriC region of M. tuberculosis genome. Importantly, the 3' sequence flanking the 5'-GCG/C-3' site markedly affected the binding affinity of ssDNA to MtuP49. Mutagenesis studies showed that substitution of residue Arg31 in the zinc-binding domain affected the binding activity of MtuP49 to template ssDNA. Combined with the predicted structure of MtuP49, an intramolecular rearrangement of zinc-binding domain relative to the RNA polymerase domain was implied to be essential in the binding of MtuP49 to template ssDNA. ConclusionThis study firstly identified the SRS in ssDNA for MtuDnaG binding, the key factors affecting MtuDnaG binding to ssDNA was revealed. The above results provide evidence to shed light on the mechanism of MtuDnaG priming, and pave the way for development of novel DnaG-targeted antituberculosis drugs.

Human exhaled breath has great application prospects,e.g.,monitoring pharmacokinetics,disease diagnosis,due to its advantages such as non-invasive and high-frequency sampling.Breath samples can be collected from the oral and nasal cavity.However,the oral and nasal environment affect the chemical composition of breath sample.Therefore,the investigation on the chemical composition of mouth-exhaled breath and nose-exhaled breath is crucial for selection of appropriate sampling strategy for individual studies.In this work,secondary electrospray ionization-high resolution mass spectrometry(SESI-HRMS)was applied to analysis of respiratory metabolomics in real time.A quantitative analysis approach was established for 9 kinds of volatile organic compounds(VOCs)e.g.2-butanone,2-pentanone,ethyl acetate,methyl methacrylate,toluene,styrene,mesitylene,isoprene and limonene.The limit of detection was 2.3?240.8 ng/m3.The intra-day(n=6)and inter-day(n=18)relative standard deviations were 0.6%?4.6%and 4.3%?12.2%,respectively.Nine healthy subjects were recruited to investigate the chemical composition of mouth-exhaled and nose-exhaled breath.The results showed the good performance in quantitative analysis of 9 VOCs in breath air.It was found that the number of unique component(m/z)detected in mouth-exhaled breath(167)was 2.2 times greater than that detected in nose-exhaled breath(76),which might result from the complex environment in oral cavity.The signal intensity of commun component(163)was significantly different between mouth-exhaled breath and nose-exhaled breath.Additionally,the elemental composition analysis showed that the proportion of polar compounds detected in nose-exhaled breath was higher than that in mouth-exhaled breath.This study demonstrated that there was significant differences in the chemical composition between mouth-exhaled and nose-exhaled breath,which provided a theoretical basis for selection of exhalation mode.